Gilbert & Ruth Whitaker Business Information Center

Designed by noted architect Robert A. M. Stern, the Business Information Center provides about three times the space of the previous library in Herring Hall. The library occupies portions of the second and fourth floors on the southeast side of McNair Hall. It includes a room for reference materials and journals, a separate room for the circulating collection, and a large reading room overlooking Jamail Plaza and the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy. Also provided are several group study rooms, carrels and an online resource rooms.

Although features from several architectural styles are used, the design of the library is heavily influenced by the late nineteenth-century arts and crafts movement. Elements of this movement are evident in many of the furnishings particularly the enormous glass and metal light fixtures illuminating the reading room. During the lengthy planning stages of the Jones School building project there evolved not only a comfortable and spacious study environment, but also ample growth space to meet the demands of the school.

Books

Borrowing Privileges
Rice University student, faculty, staff and courtesy borrowers who have current identification cards may borrow books. A current Rice University I.D. or courtesy card is required for all borrowing transactions.

Loan Periods

Category

Loan Period

Undergraduate and Graduate Students

28 days

Faculty

1 due date; May 1str

Rice Staff

Semester

Approved Community Borrowers

28 days

Renewals
Books that are not yet overdue, have not been requested by another borrower, or reached the renewal limit may be renewed online.

Overdue Books and Fines – Rice faculty, students & staff

Books

25 cents/day

Reserves

$1.20/hr

Recalled materials

$1.00/day

Overdue Books & Fines - Approved Community Borrowers

Books

$1.00/day

Recalls

$1.00/day

Lost & Damaged Materials

Material lost by a borrower is billed for its replacement value, plus a nonrefundable processing fee.

Materials damaged while charged to a borrower are billed at the cost of repair or replacement.

All lost or damaged materials remain the property of Fondren Library.

Recalls
Only authorized borrowers may place recalls. A book may be recalled from another borrower after it has been on loan for a minimum of two weeks. Recalled item due dates will automatically change to precede the original due dates. Books needed for reserve are recalled immediately.

Journals - fulltext journals

Rice libraries provide access to a large number and variety of online journals. The scope of the collection is broad with excellent coverage in art, business, economics, engineering, literature, music, natural sciences and social sciences.

Faculty Services & Research
The BIC staff are ready to help you in person (room 200 McNair Hall) or via email (jgsbic@rice.edu)

Classroom Help:

Reserves: Bring books, articles, and other items to Elise McCutchen. We try to have a 24 hr turnaround time for reserves

Class Instruction: The BIC staff can come to your class and present a brief introduction to relevant resources. If there is not class time available, we can tailor a resource guide for a specific project.

Research Help:

InterLibrary Loan (ILLiad): Set up your ILLiad account via Fondren Library’s home page. Make sure you check the box for Faculty which will automatically sign you up for FondrenExpress.

FondrenExpress: Part of the ILL system at Rice, articles and books not held in BIC or online will be obtained and brought to the BIC.

Databases: The library subscribes to databases and other data sources to support faculty such as ABI/INFORM, Business Source Complete, Factiva, Investext and Mergent Online.

Faculty Research Databases: Jones School subscribes to certain databases that are primarily
used for faculty research.